Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-08-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Resurrected Church.
Il Chi1dren's Day Story.
BIZ HELEN PEARSON BARNARD.

BIZ HELEN PEARSON BARNARD
Directly after breakfast Mr.. Solomon Abels
new boarder asked what time church began.
81 heard no first beii," he said.
"There's NO fust nor second" returned Sol
ONION. ':Thc old bells still onlcss there's a
fire or lection; the meetin' house is closed up
been so for months"
"What's the mattet7'
Mr.. Abel looked toward his wife; she re-
turned the glance imprcssively.
''Solomon, you tell. He knows the whole
story it nearly broke his heart"
Although sOlomon's healthy Phyaiiue showed
that the heart was not too crippled for duty,
yet it was evident that lie felt deeply as he said
"Yes, our churcls dead'n burried'n was at
the funeral. Seems shame, with the building
paid for and the children growing up like
heathen.h
Solomon tipped his chair. rested his head on
his palms, and went on with the relish of a
genuine story teller.
"Thc trouble began in the choir. 1t was
thought great thing-most all our leading
men did-to set in the seats. In course the
pews made pooty slim show stormy days
but the choir was there, going full blast with
boarders laughed at Sophrony Jones treble and
Diah Sprague's tenor cause he hadn't but two
teeth in his head, and said Jabez Green's base
was half a measure behind, but nobody
blamed 'cIn for that It was just like one fam
lily. We didn't expect Our old people was
flutes"
"There, pa, don't you get excited" said
Mrs. Able, as he paused for breath.
az can't help being rilcd," replied Solomon.
"Well, the music ran smooth till the new
schoolmastcr came-a little, nipping, dainty
fellow-'n' let out on his tenor in the prayer
meeting. 1t seems he had sung in the city, no.
body could find out just twhere"-sarcastically-
"but that was enough for some folks. They
clappcd him in leader of the choir and showed
Diah Sprague along. Diah. he'd been there
twenty-five years, m naturally felt it, but he
held in"
Everybody said he showed a beautiful
spirit" added Mrs. Abel.
Everything would have gone well, even
then. if the scloolmastcr'd sense; bnt nO!"-
Solomon lapsed into irony again. he said it
was high time the choir was thinned out and
recognized. So he told everybody to sit down
stairs one Sabbath, and those who were want
ed would be asked back. Some who'd stood
by through thick and thin want going to risk
being tipped out. so four of 'em staid in their
seats. put on their glasses. riz in their places
and sang every hymn through! They kept
that up two Sundays; then dwindled down TO
Diah. and he put on his hat and left. l don't
s'posc yoke o oxen would draw him into the
mcctin' house again. After that the old choir
held their breath and waited, but 10, you !
only two got an invite. The schoOImaster put
himself in as tenor and got nn out-of-town
for trcble-thenl four was going to do all our
singing. Some of our people liked ii: specially
the treble solos-I called thetn so highs, and q
leetlc too Opcratfc for church. That ere quar-
tcttc set the whole parish by the ears. There
want nothing else talked about when the
S'ciety met here. The women left the mission
ary barrel empty right in the middle Of the
floor, whilst they ut over the music. There
was good many such battles fought; nobody
beat. but everybody got some hurt that never
healed. Folks began to stay away from meet
ing because so-and-so had said something ahout
them and this one couldn't set at the Lords
table with each other. So they kept on till the
old church died"
Solomon's deep voice ceased. There was q
long pause. The stranger moved nearer the
window. He could see the empty church por-
tai. At length he askeds
"But surely you have Sabbath school -
"No, nothing"
Mrs. Abel signed. The stranger reIapscd
into silence. but his eye glowed with thcught.
Presently he left the house and walked toward
the church. The path was full of weeds; they
were even in the crevices of the sacred steps.
Across ore snake summed himself, unpleas-
antly suggestive of Satan entering Eden in ger
pent's form. sc the stranger killed the rep
tile. he exclaimed:
$50 may it be with the evil spirit who closed
the sanctuary"
Mrs. Abels new boarder tarried long beside
the desoIate church. The others rallied him
about his morning service" bat twas really
a service OF remuneration to his Master, and
plans for labor in this neglected vencyard.
After that he sought, with rare tact, the ac-
quaintance of the children. and coon rented OF
the Abels an empty room for Sabbath after,
moons. He made blackboard, bOrrowed q
cabinet organ, and invited his !oung friends
for an hour's study of the Bible.
"a sort of Sunday school," remarked Sol,
omon. '.It amt no use; our young folk.
won't come"
But they did. The singing was frequent and
lively; the blackboard spicily illustrative
Next Sabbath the class doubled each week II
increased until it reached one hundred and
seventy-ive! Then the people awoke to the
fact that the Sabbath school was the most